Goodwill Industries International and University of Phoenix equip Goodwill&reg; employees in fulfilling their aspirations as business leaders

PHOENIX and ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 15, 2014 — Goodwill Industries International (GII) and University of Phoenix, a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL), today announced a new scholarship program that has awarded full-tuition scholarships to 10 employees at various GII agencies across the country. These scholarships may be used by recipients effective immediately and will provide them with the opportunity to pursue undergraduate or master's degrees from University of Phoenix, helping them expand their skill sets and prepare them to move into senior management positions at GII.

GII partnered with University of Phoenix to award employees who have demonstrated academic excellence and the potential of growing into executive positions at 10 of GII's 165 independent, community-based agencies across the United States and Canada. The employees who were awarded the scholarships include those working in or toward leadership roles at their respective GII headquarters. University of Phoenix will continue to offer these scholarships each year through 2016, for a total of 30 full-tuition scholarships, as part of this new partnership with GII.

"University of Phoenix and Goodwill Industries International are aligned in their goals to train and educate America's workforce," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of GII. "Through this scholarship opportunity and investment in the Goodwill enterprise's employees, we will be able to retain our workforce talent and provide development opportunities so that they are able to fulfill their dreams and advance their career potential."

Scholarship recipients were selected based on criteria that required that they be participants or graduates in one of GII's many leadership development programs, such as the executive development program and the senior leader program, among others.

The list of scholarship recipients includes:

Recipient Name

Degree

Location

Doug Newsome

MBA

Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands South Carolina, Inc.

Wayne Hatcher

BS Business

Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley Inc.

Brian Otto

BS Business

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

Michael Frohm

MBA

Goodwill of Greater Washington

Gladys Okine

MBA

Goodwill Industries of Toronto, Eastern, Central and Northern Ontario

Michael Pritchard

MBA

Goodwill Industries of Denver

Christina Morris

MBA

Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County

Kirsten O'Donnell

MBA

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc.

Jessica Schultz

MBA

Goodwill Industries of the Columbia, Inc.

Karen Caines

MBA

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, Inc.

The scholarship announcement is part of a bigger alliance between University of Phoenix and GII to address the nation's skills gap by providing Goodwill employees with reduced tuition for degree programs as well as certificate programs and professional development courses. In addition, the scholarships make up one of four components of a larger University of Phoenix and GII partnership. Through GII's corporate university, The Helm, University of Phoenix offers a 10 percent tuition discount for all Goodwill employees, provides three-year funding for a diversity and inclusion initiative and sponsorship of an internship program. Additionally, University of Phoenix will support GII national conferences and events with funding for three years.

About Goodwill Industries International

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with a presence in 14 other countries. Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 3,000 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com®. Goodwill also builds revenue and creates jobs by contracting with businesses and government agencies to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2013, more than 9.8 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 83 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services.

To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl and @GoodwillCapHill, and find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX

University of Phoenix is constantly innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo Education Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit www.phoenix.edu.